Newsom and the California chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) announced on Thursday that Newsom’s group, comprised of legal and medical experts, would devote between 18 and 24 months analyzing the effects of legalization of the drug in Washington and Colorado, with the goal of producing recommendations for a possible ballot initiative for the 2016 election.

“Marijuana prohibition has harmed communities and families by needlessly ensnaring hundreds of thousands of people in the overburdened criminal justice system, with people of color far more likely to be arrested and prosecuted,” Hopper was quoted as saying. “California voters recognize that it’s time for change and will overwhelmingly support reforming marijuana laws provided it can be done responsibly with adequate safeguards and assurances that tax revenues will go to fund public schools and other important social services.”

About the Author

Arturo R. García is the managing editor at Racialicious.com. He is based in San Diego, California and has written for both print and broadcast media, including contributions to GlobalComment.com, The Root and Comment Is Free. Follow him on Twitter at @ABoyNamedArt